Charing to Hollingbourne Cycle Route Audit, 17th September.

Vicky, Therese and Pete outside Charing station with their bikes

Working in collaboration with Visit Maidstone, Explore Kent and North Downs Way National Trail, Kent Community Rail Partnership are considering diversifying their guided walks to also offer guided wheels in the Kent Downs National Landscape.  Guided wheels can include cycle rides, mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs.  Together we aim to bring more sustainable tourism to the area and extend the typical summer tourist season to all year round.

Pete Morris (Manager NDW), Vicky Wright and Therese Hammond (Project Officers Kent CRP) conducted a cycle audit of the Pilgrims Cycle Trail between Charing and Hollingbourne stations, with the aim of viewing the recent track improvements and identifying any necessary future works prior to guided wheels taking place.  The route appears to have received greater improvement than expected leading to us all agreeing mountain/gravel cycles could be guided from Charing to Hollingbourne and vice versa.  There would need to be further risk assessment throughout winter if winter rides were to be considered due to stretches of mud which could become very slippery if wet and large potholes along the route which could become full of deep standing rainwater to travel through.  As for other wheels, further improvements to the route would be needed which Pete is going to pursue.

We ended the audit at the very welcoming Signal Box Café at Hollingbourne station which received much praise from Pete and Vicky as this was their first visit.

 

Watch this space for our 2025/2026 Action Plan sustainable tourism offer!

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